1. That the Canadian Government should be ready to:
(a) Accept the present standing offer of the British Government to assume 75 percent of the cost for the selection, transportation and settlement of their emigrants, provided the Dominion (and other Commonwealth) Government assume 25 percent.
(b) Establish after the war a bureau of Canadian representatives of the highest educational and cultural standards in Britain to present our case to the British Peoples.
2. That the Church's interest and desires in this may better be promoted by intergroup consultations and action, than by any one society or Church, and that therefore, with the co-operation of other interested societies (e.g. those at present in the C.S.C.C.), an Inter-Group Standing Committee be established to,
(a) Watch British and European developments;
(b) Bring pressure on the Federal Government to, (i) promote immigration and (ii) to establish an adequate quota of British immigration;
(c) Educate all classes of Canadian public opinion concerning the need for immigration with special reference to British immigration.
3. That so far as Churches are concerned their best effort may be made in assisting the Government in the selection, interim care, and placement of immigrants rather than by themselves bringing out groups of immigrants.
4. That the Churches develop a close contact with parent Churches in Britain in order to develop mutual action in this regard.
The Committee recommends that the Church should make no general recommendations for or against greater immigration but is of the opinion that vigilance should be exercised to see the proper proportion of immigrants are British. The Committee recommends that the present policy of the Council should be continued, namely, the welcome and welfare work.
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That Recommendation No.3 on Immigration, be amended to read as follows:
Resolved that this Synod recommends to the Department of Immigration that vigilance should be exercised to see that the proper proportion of immigrants are British. The Committee recommends that the present policy of the Council should be continued, namely, the welcome and welfare work. CARRIED in both Houses.
That the suggested Council of the Churches on British Migration be referred to the Executive of the Social Service Council with power to act. CARRIED in both Houses.
The Archbishop of Huron presented the Report of the Executive Council which was considered section by section.
The adoption of each section was moved by the Archbishop of Huron and seconded by Chancellor Gisborne.
(1) "World's Alliance," adopted by both Houses. [See page 145]
(2) "Insurance on Church property," adopted by both Houses with the exception of the notes at the end of the Section. [See pages 145-148]
(3) "Organization of the Church." (Deferred). [See pages 148-149]
(4) "Sir Edmond Osler Trust," adopted by both Houses. [See page 149]
(5) "W.C.T.U. and Militarism," adopted by both Houses. [See pages 149-150]
(6) "A Revision of Statistical Form." The Bishop of Quebec, Chairman of the Statistical Committee, having read the following report, Section (6) was adopted by both Houses.
REPORT OF THE SUB-COMMITTEE ON STATISTICS
In September, 1926, the G.B.R.E. petitioned the Executive Council of the General Synod to have certain questions connected with Sunday Schools added to the Statistical Form which is issued to all the Dioceses.
The Executive Council having discussed the matter referred it to the Committee on Statistics and the State of the Church. This Committee was summoned to meet in Montreal to consider the matter, but unfortunately no one was able to attend except the Convener.
Another meeting of the Committee was held in Toronto last week. Two attended, but the opinion of those present was that it was not advisable to add more questions in connection with the G.B.R.E. work to the Statistical Form.
This decision was reported to the Executive Council on the 12th inst. The Council, however, decided by a majority vote that the additional questions asked for must be included in the Form, and a small sub-committee was appointed to decide in what way to recommend to General Synod that the questions ought to be inserted, i.e. whether on a separate sheet or otherwise.
The sub-committee was also asked to consider the best method of obtaining uniformity in the method of answering this questionnaire and any other matter which might facilitate the obtaining of accurate statistics.
The sub-committee therefore beg to report that in their opinion:
1. The additional questions asked for by the G.B.R.E. ought to be incorporated in the body of the Form in the place where other matters connected with Sunday Schools are placed.
2. That in order to obtain uniform and accurate information from the Dioceses, specimen copies of the Statistical Form be sent at once to the Synod Office of every Diocese in order that all the information required by the General Synod may be asked for in the form for returns issued to all the parishes in each Diocese.
3. That the present committee on Statistics and the State of the Church is too large and composed of members who are at distance far remote from each other and consequently seldom or ever able to meet together and that it would be far better to appoint a small committee of 4 and 5 who are near enough to each other to meet regularly and attend to the matter thoroughly.
4. That for the purpose of obtaining accurate information it is desirable that the Questionnaire should not be overloaded with minute questions which are not of any special value to the Church as a whole.
On behalf of the Sub-Committee, (Signed) Lennox Quebec, Kingston, 13 Sept., 1927.
(7) "Board of Finance and Legacies," adopted by both Houses. [See page 151]
(8) "Anglican War Service Fund," [adopted by both Houses]. [See page 151-152]
(9) "Ukrainian Prayer Book," adopted by both Houses. [See page 152]
(10) "Annual Meetings of Boards," adopted by both Houses. [See page 152]
(11) "Immigration," adopted by both Houses. [See pages 152-153]
[(11) Immigration: -- [Pages 152-153 of the Report of the Executive Council]
The Council for Social Service having requested the Executive Council to draft a Resolution to send to the Government at Ottawa, the following was drafted and carried:--
"That the Executive Council of the General Synod of the Church of England in Canada would urge upon your government the great importance of settling the land with people from the Mother Country, and would urge a close co-operation between your government and the British government to secure that end and trusts that this question of immigration will have a very prominent place at the forthcoming Imperial Conference."
A Deputation was named to wait upon the Government and present the Resolution.]
(12) "Church Newspaper," adopted by both Houses. [See page 153]
(13) "Episcopal Endowment Fund," adopted by both Houses. [See pages 153-154]
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Resolved, That the Report of the Executive Council, with the exception of Section (3), be adopted.
Resolved, That the Section "Development of Directed Immigration" be adopted. [See pages 272-274 in the Council for Social Service report.]
Notes
[The Development of Directed Immigration
Pages 272-274 of the FOURTH TRIENNIAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICE TO THE GENERAL SYNOD OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN CANADA
During the winter of 1925 application forms for single men, for domestic servants and for married men to work on farms were sent to the clergy. These were accompanied by an explanatory circular issued by the Council, and in most cases by a covering commendatory letter from the bishop of the diocese. During the past winter a similar plan was adopted, the nomination forms used being those supplied by the Department of Immigration at Ottawa.
As these nominations for workers are received, copies are at once sent by the Council to its British representative, the Church of England Council of Empire Settlement, which at once seeks to fill them from Churchpeople who are recommended by their clergy in the Motherland.
After being approved by the Council of Empire Settlement these prospective settlers have to satisfy the British representatives of the Canadian Government's Department of Immigration and Colonization in England, by whom warrants enabling them to secure the reduced rates on ocean and railway journeys are then issued.
The date of sailing of the accepted settler is then cabled to the office of the Council at the Church House, Toronto, which in turn notifies the prospective employer and the port chaplain, who meets the newcomer at the Atlantic port and wires his employer when he may expect him.
The office of the Council keeps in touch with the newcomer, with his employer, and with his clergyman by correspondence, and endeavours to arrange that by visits and otherwise everything possible shall be done to enable the new settler to fit in happily and successfully in his new environment.
Thus far the plan has in the main been working well and many letters of congratulations and thanks have been received by the office from the clergy, from employers, from the newcomers themselves and, in several instances, from their relatives in England.
Of course, everything does not always work smoothly. Sometimes the Church of England Council of Empire Settlement is unable to fill the nomination. Sometimes a prospective migrant decides at the last moment not to come or to defer his sailing date. Sometimes the employer is disappointed in the worker who comes to him, and sometimes vice-versa. Second and third placements have therefore sometimes to be made.
Those who have met the newcomer under this plan of directed migration speak of them as in the main good, sound and sensible people of British stock.
There are two points that the office of the C.S.S. would like to call to the attention of the parochial clergy, many of whom have been doing splendid service to the Church, to Canada, and to the Empire in furthering the good work:
1. Early applications for workers is most desirable. At the best it takes six weeks to two months to fill a particular requisition, after it has been received at the Council's office in Toronto. Moreover, while the Council of Empire Settlement is doing its best to fill all requisitions sent forward by the C.S.S., it is not in all cases successful in doing so.
2. Inexperienced workers are more easily secured than experienced. The British Isles have been and are being pretty well combed by government and by other agencies for experienced farm workers to come to Canada, and in many parts of England there is an actual shortage to meet the local demand for agricultural workers. On the other hand there are thousands of older lads and young men entirely without farm experience but with good physique, alert minds and eager to make good, who should be anxious to come to Canada and gain their experience on the land in this country while working at a moderate wage.
Of course this whole piece of work is yet in its infancy and therefore in the experimental stage. Progress to date has convinced the Council's workers that it is very distinctly worth while. It is interesting to note that other Churches have since adopted similar plans for promoting directed British immigration.]
The Synod then returned to consideration of the Triennial Report of the Council for Social Service, at the Section "Work of the Dominion Government in Immigration."
Moved by the Bishop of Toronto, seconded by Canon Vernon,
That the General Synod, recognizing that the Government of Canada and its Department of Immigration and Colonization have been taking steps to secure an increasing British migration to Canada, desires to pledge to co-operation of the Church of England in Canada, through its Council for Social Service and its British representatives the Church of England Council of Empire Settlement, in this matter, and at the same time to urge the calling together by the Government of Canada at the earliest possible opportunity of a Conference representing the Dominion and Provincial Governments, the Churches, all voluntary organizations interested in immigration and the transportation companies to discuss the practical details involved in carrying out a still more extended policy of preferential British Immigration, and to secure the fullest possible co-operation of all concerned.
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Resolved, That the preamble of the Resolution "recognizing...to Canada" be deleted.
Notes
Moved by: Canon Vernon
Seconded by: Bishop of Toronto
Resolved, That the Section `Work of the Dominion Government in Immigration' as amended be adopted.
The presentation of the Report of the Council for Social Service was then resumed at Section "The Problem of Foreign Migration." [See pages 280-281]
Moved by Canon Vernon, seconded by the Bishop of Toronto,
That this Section "Foreign Migration" be adopted.
Moved in amendment by Rev. W.H. Davison, seconded by Mr. L.A. Hamilton,
That the last paragraph of this Section be deleted.
Text
Moved as an amendment to the Amendment by the Bishop of Saskatchewan, seconded by the Bishop of Toronto, and
Resolved, That the following words take the place of the last paragraph in the Section "The Problem of Foreign Migration": The General Synod of the Church of England in Canada recognizing the vital need of maintaining our British Connection, our British ideals and our British institutions and believing that the preponderance of continental over British immigration to Canada is likely to lower seriously existing standards of wages and living conditions, the maintenance of which is in the best interest alike of the foreign born and of those of British stock, desires to urge upon the Government of Canada the adoption of a quota policy to limit the number of certain classes of foreign born immigrants admitted during any year to not more than 50 percent of the British born admitted during the preceding year.
Notes
Moved by Canon Vernon, seconded by the Bishop of Toronto, and
Resolved, That this Section as amended be adopted.
[The Problem of Foreign Migration
Pages 280-281 of the FOURTH TRIENNIAL REPORT OF THE COUNCIL FOR SOCIAL SERVICE TO THE GENERAL SYNOD OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND IN CANADA
In spite of everything that has been and is being done, and the increase secured in British migration, the immigration from other countries than Great Britain still greatly exceeds that of the British born, and that in spite of the fact that the assisted passage rates are not available for them. The official figures for the twelve months ending March 31st last are:--
From Great Britain ...... 49,784
From United States .... 21,025
From other countries ... 73,182
During the same period 56,957 Canadians returned from the United States, made up as follows:--
Canadian Born ........................................ 49,255
British Subjects with Canadian Domicile .... 5,326
British Immigration should surely at least be in the ratio of two to one of immigration from Continental Europe.
It would seem, therefore, that not only must the most heroic measures be adopted by the Government and by all interested in immigration but that it is desirable that the General Synod should seriously consider the advisability of memorializing the Government to adopt a quota policy limiting the number of certain classes of continental immigrants each year to not more than 50 per cent of the British immigrants of the preceding twelve months.]
1. The General Synod of the Church of England in Canada expresses its appreciation of the steps thus far taken by the Department of Immigration and Colonization of the Government of Canada in the direction of showing at the present juncture a preference for immigration from the British Isles. It desires to urge upon the Department the vital need of extending its provisions to ensure the happy, satisfactory and permanent settlement of the immigrant in Canada.
2. The General Synod expresses its approval of the work done by the Council for Social Service to ensure the welcome and welfare of the newcomer, recommends the formation of local welcome and welfare Committees at all places in which immigrants settle, and urges upon the Clergy and Churchpeople generally the duty of welcoming the newcomers at the earliest opportunity to our Church life and activities and of linking them up with all agencies helpful to their spiritual and social welfare.
At 3 o'clock, Colonel Stanley, C.B.E., on invitation from the Primate gave a most interesting address on the subject of British Migration, after which it was:
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Resolved, That
1. The General Synod of the Church of England in Canada learns with pleasure of the increasing interest taken by the Church in the Motherland in British migration to the overseas Dominions of the Empire and expresses its willingness to co-operate heartily in this matter with the Social and Industrial Committee of the National Assembly of the Church of England.
2. The General Synod approves the outline of the plan for the extension of the work of the Council for Social Service on behalf of the welcome, settlement and after care of British immigrants and hereby authorizes the Council for Social Service, when the time arrives, to make a special appeal to the Church throughout the Dominion on behalf of this immigration work.
3. The General Synod refers the above resolutions to the Executive Committee of the Council for Social Service for action.
The Memorial from the Brotherhood of St. Andrew was then presented by Canon Vernon.
Memorial from the Brotherhood of St. Andrew
To the General Synod of the Church of England in Canada:
This Dominion Convention assembled in Winnipeg respectfully suggests that:
Whereas at the present time no well defined attempt is made by the Church to link up closely the passing on of Anglican settlers from the Old Land to the West with those points where Anglican associations and privileges are accessible.
It is desirable to operate for the above purpose through our own Council for Social Service and any allied agencies, a Central Bureau in the Church House, Westminster, London, in direct communication with another similar Bureau in Winnipeg.
NOTE - If we are to have happy and satisfied settlers in Canada, there must be better advice and guidance given to the Immigrant whilst still in the Old Land. There is a great need of increased interest and co-operation in the building up of a strong, broad, definite, Colonization policy, that would not only hold Anglicans for the Church; but through proper environment establish them as God fearing, loyal, industrious citizens of our Great Dominion.
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Resolved, That the Report be referred to the Executive Committee of the Council for Social Service.